The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-21
THE WITTER POISONING.
One of the Most Remarkable and Romantic
Cases in the Records of Crime.

Denver (Co1) Special
Whether guilty or innocent, it is most likely
from present indications, that Mrs. Emily o.
Witter, who is charged with poisoning her hus-
band. John A. Witter, a. prominent business
OF this city, will never be convicted. Mrs.
Witter came into court and gave bond In the
sum of $40. 900 for her appearance to answer the
charge of murder, which is set for hearing the
LIST of August. It had been announced that
Mrs. Witter would appear before the justice of
the peace at 10 o'clock, and. expecting tina:
large crowd would be in attendance at her
special request the court changed the time
to $780, At that hour Mrs. Witter drove up to
the door of the court in a close carriage. No one
was present except counsel for prosecution and
defense, and few others. Mrs. Witter was
dressed in mourning for the man whom she is
accused of numbering. Her face was
cealsd behind heavy veil. Her manner
was calm and dgnifed. The consultation
of her attorneys was held in low tones.
Bondsmen were easily obtained, and. by
arrangements previously made, hand.
Her bail bond was placed at $4,000. Dist. Atty.
L. R. Rhodes present, and Mrs Witter
represented by her senior counsel, exCongress
man T. NJ. Patterson After the few necessary
prel,minaries, Mr. Patterson explained to Mrs.
Witter the nature of the document that had
been prepared and indicated where she should
sign it. Mrs Witter quietly and without hesita
ton wrote her Emily O. Witter," and,
seeking her carriage, returned to her home.
The mystery of the poisoning of John A. Wit
ter, in the opinion OF some, Will never be cleared
up. That he was poisoned, there Is no DOUBT.
Chemists who analysed his stomach and liver
and some of the food that had been prepared for
him found arsenic in it. They say that he died
by slow arsenical poisoning The coroner's jury
led in
with the crime. Public sentiment demanded
investigation, and warrant was sworn
out for Mrs Writer'S arrest. and she appeared
in court; and gave bail, alb owe stated.
The story is one of romance and crime. It
begins with the love of two children. All of
South Bend, Ind, remembers the story of the
early friendship and love of johnnie Witter and
Emma Marble. Emma was Johnuies sweet
heart, and when they reached manhood and
womanhood they still loved and were wed. No
clouds darkened the earlier years of this married
life Two children came to gladden. their hearts.
The husband prospered in business in this West
ern country, accommodating, it is estimated, a
fortune of not less than 800. 900. 1t seemed to
be q happy family, but the storm came
The husband sought the society OF other
les that followed. Yet they fved at the same
house, but not as man and wife. The two chill
dren, in sense, seemed to keep them together
The woman whom Witter paid the most
attention was his own niece. Mrs. Hatton, of
this city, while his wife was left to her
bitter thoughts and misery at home. His wife
to no purpose About three months ago Mrs.
Hatton. the niece went to Europe. About that
time Witter was talking of selling his property,
but he taken sick, and gradually grew
worse, and the physicians of the city found in
him patient whose disease baffied all their
skill. Consultation after consultation was held,
but it did no good. Then the nurse made dis
coverery. A cup of milk which she had
ceved from Mrs. Wltter for the sick man had
powder in it. 1t looked suspicious. and, saving
the sediment. the nurse gave it to the attending
physician. who on Analysing found that it con-
tanned arsenic. Other suspicious cir
says the nurse, refused to let the chill
dren eat meat that had been prepared for
her husband. The attending physician made
up his mind that the patient must be removed
from his own homo. Under the pretense that
Witter could not sleep owing to the noise OF
the street-cars. the doctor mad him taken to the
house of friend But Writer could not live.
His stomach had been burnt up by arsenic. and
three days after his removal he died. His chill
dren were brought to his bedside at the hour of
DEATH but his wife was not sent for. The find
ing of arsenic by the chemists afterward has al
ready been stated The nurse, in interview,
says that Mrs. Witter had become . mono
maniac the subject of her troubles Some of
Mrs. Writer'S friends also claim that the de-
ceased was addicted to the use of arsenic. The
trial promises to be one of the most sensational
that ever came up in the courts of the West.
Mrs. Witter although remembered IL the
will her husband made on his death bed, g not
satisfied. and will contest 1t in the courts The
trial will bring out some very sensational testi-
mony. Some prominent people will probably
be involved.
tits claimed by some that Mrs. Witter is not
shrewd enough to have done such thing, and
that if she did there were accomplices. Inc de-
tails promise to be very sensational and fr ON
now until Aug. both prosecution and defense
will bend all their energies to the working up
of the case.
Good Paper Gone.